Comments on: Baptizing the Tricolore

By: Paul S.

Paul S. — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:49:24 +0000

At a recent pilgrimage in Ann Arbor, we made use of what I call an "American Flag of the Social Kingship of Christ," wherein the Sacred Heart of the Vendee is superimposed over the field of red and white stripes, pace heraldry / Matthew of the Holy Whapping. Picture: heart + cross + American flag Visit here and scroll down to see some pictures of the flag in action.

By: Joseph S. I. Illes

Joseph S. I. Illes — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:03:17 +0000

I have to agree with the Italians supporting this idea. For too long have Europeans, and indeed Western society as a whole, been in this negative apologetic funk which has been purely detrimental not only to Europe on the national scale, but internationally as well. Europe is losing its identity as a bastion of good Christian morals (I draw your attention to HIM Queen Victoria) to be replaced with the ever-more slippery slope of political correctness gone-haywire.

I agree with Adrian Moore. The Med. is quite used to overly complicated flags, such as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_the_Two_Sicilies) or even the old Papal flags as you said, Mr. Cusack. Incidentally, you might have seen the Papal Ensign here: (http://flagspot.net/flags/va_hist.html).

There should be no great problem with adopting a cross, even if it were just for heritage’ sake. Almost every nation in the Middle East sports a crescent moon and star, or variation thereof, and some even have “Allah is Great” or “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His prophet” written in the vernacular such as the Saudi and Iraqi flags.

By: Nelson Hanford

Nelson Hanford — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:59:04 +0000

I like the “alternating green and red separated by white cross”, or whatever the heraldically correct term is which reminds me of Milan for some reason.
However I see your solution as being the most plausible.

By: crusader88

crusader88 — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:04:00 +0000

My picks would be adding the old Savoy arms, which might incidentally bring attention to the monarchist cause, or to add the Sacred Heart in much the way French Catholic patriots sometimes do. However, I can easily envision Cusack’s modest white cross winning a referendum or national campaign.

By: Adrian Moore

Adrian Moore — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:53:05 +0000

The Scandinavian crosses, in the Italian colours, make me feel quite angry for some reason; whereas the quartered flag reminds me of several Scottish Italian restaurants’ menus.

I have always been a fan of the simplicity of the Cross of Lorraine on a flag. A black or red cross (Lorraine or otherwise) on the central white vertical stripe could look quite handsome. The red Lorraine cross did not unbalance the Free French flag, did it?

Alternatively, the Mediterranean tradition of a complex central ensign, such as in Spain and Portugal, could be continued. Often the absence of the Iberian ensigns draws more attention towards them.

By: Matthew (Alderman) of the Holy Whapping

Matthew (Alderman) of the Holy Whapping — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:36:21 +0000

Mark–I’m surprised someone hasn’t made one already! Not a bad design. I seem to remember one that just had the Sacred Heart superimposed on the 13 stripes but that just looks heraldically awful.

The idea of placing a crucifix on the central stripe reminds me of the old Papal war ensign–which I think was a crucifix on a red field between SS. Peter and Paul. Maybe that wasn’t the war ensign (I seem to remember a white one with just the two apostles on it) but there was a papal naval flag like that.

By: Mark Scott Abeln

Mark Scott Abeln — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:18:43 +0000

I’ve been toying with the idea of a patriotic flag for American Catholics.

It would take as its basis the “Betsy Ross” flag, but with 12 gold stars replacing the 13 white ones in the original, reflecting the image from Revelation chapter 12. At the center of the stars would be the Sacred Heart of the Vendee, giving it a more obvious Catholic character, but still easy-to-draw.

By: Andrew Cusack

Andrew Cusack — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:35:33 +0000

You know, I think you’re right. Scratch my error.

By: Daniel Mitsui

Daniel Mitsui — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:24:16 +0000

I thought the Borromean motto was humilitas.

By: Davidoff

Davidoff — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:35:54 +0000

Unless I’m much mistaken, a not dissimilar solution is adopted for the flag of the Swiss Canton of Neuchatel, except that the cross is in the upper portion of the red stripe of the tricolor rather than the green.